Dena's Lebanese Cuisine, Simple Exterior, Amazing Food

 


Dena's Lebanese Cuisine located in Tulsa's Pearl District is one of the best, and most authentic Lebanese restaurants in town.








      As soon as you step into this quaint, "old-school" adorned restaurant, you'll know what I mean. It's like you stepped into a cafe in Lebanon.  Owner Ghalib Naaman, owner/chef, described some of the menu items and his fond memories of Lebanon.  I walked through the restaurants, admiring the beauty of his homeland...made me want to take a trip to see the majestic place for myself.

     After my review of the wall photos and knick-knacks, I got down to business and started chatting about food.  I asked him to prepare my to-go meal using his favorites or whatever he wished.  I know the meal consisted of a cabbage roll, and all platters come with hummus, pita bread and rice.  The meal he prepared was also comprised of soujouk (sausage), lamb and beef. It had a delicious yogurt and tahini sauce over it. And what Mediterranean meal would be complete without a pickle, to balance the rich meal out?

Cabbage roll, soujouk a lamb version of jaj b laban, served with rice, humus and pita bread.

Cabbage roll, soujouk a lamb version of jaj b laban, served with 

rice, humus and pita bread.

     This was truly delicious and I'd say it is one of the best Lebanese restaurants in town.  It's not a fancy place, nor is it in a fancy location, which means, you'll be paying for the authentic, delicious, goodness that is the food and nothing more.  Service was good and friendly.  Go by and say hi to Ghalib...and prepare your taste buds for amazing Lebanese cuisine. الهتافات وبون ابيتى! (cheers and bon appetit!)

Pei Wei Asian Diner...A National Chain That Cooks Fresh as Local!

 

  

Don't judge me for loving fresh food...

 

     Okay, I guess it's true what they say...one should never say "never".  I always said I despise national chain restaurants and would never blog about one. What I should have said all along is, I don't like national chain restaurants OR ANY restaurant for that matter, that serves pre-made or frozen processed foods and refuse to blog on that!

     Pei Wei Asian Diner is described as a "fast-casual restaurant concept", offering a "wok'd-to-order" menu.  It's definitely cooked-to-order, with 35 FRESH ingredients that are hand-cut daily.  I guess they know what they're doing because like their parent company P.F. Chang's, they're growing and adding locations all over the U.S. to meet the demand of the consumers.

     The newest location in Tulsa is located at 10005 S. Memorial Dr., Suite 10. So now they're located all over town...mid-town, south, everywhere! Also, they just introduced some new fall flavors to their menu:

• Sriracha Pineapple Pork Lettuce Wraps feature all-natural, wok-seared pork and a combination of fresh-cut ingredients—pineapple, red onions, and red and green bell peppers—topped with a kick of Pei Wei’s own Sriracha sauce and served with cool, crisp lettuce cups.
• Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps provide a light, fresh and tangy Thai-inspired twist on Pei Wei’s traditional lettuce wraps, with all-natural wok-seared chicken, and a combination of hand-chopped vegetables including red onions, red bell peppers, scallions, along with cilantro and mint, all tossed in a tangy citrus soy sauce.
• Korean Steak Lettuce Wraps
  feature a rich, robust and fiery combination of wok-seared marinated steak tossed with fresh carrots, bean sprouts, red onions, scallions, cucumbers, and toasted sesame seeds, drizzled with a Korean red chile sauce.

     Being a crazy fanatic of Asian food, I ordered the Korean Steak Lettuce Wraps. Serious, rich, deep and spicy flavor throughout the steak, balanced with the coolness of the freshly cut veggies.  That robustious meat combined with the crisp fresh veggies...no words can describe. Okay, maybe one...yummy-ness.

      I also ordered my all time favorite Thai food...Pad Thai. It's because of Pei Wei's Pad Thai that I learned to make it at home and made it my next obsession.  I still would rather get it from Pei Wei when ever possible...they make it easy to swing by and grab take out.

     You can see the spices and freshness in this Pad Thai masterpiece.  They top it with the traditional peanuts, lime and cilantro...watering mouth alert.

     So, the moral of the story...don't judge a restaurant by it's private or public status, as long as they make food fresh.  There are four locations in Tulsa now, 61st & Memorial, Broken Arrow, 35th & Peoria (Brookside) and the newest location, in South Memorial/Bixby.   ไชโย! (cheers!)


 

    

 

 

BREAKING NEWS: Charlie Trotter, Renowned Chicago Chef, Dead at 54

     According to the Chicago Tribune, the 54-year-old chef was found unconscious and not breathing in his Lincoln Park home this morning and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

     Trotter was found by his son Dylan at the home in the 1800 block of North Dayton Street and an ambulance was called at 10:45 a.m., according to a family friend and fire officials.  For more details http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-charlie-trotter-dead-20131105,0,3424072.story

Eat Fresh, Every Night!

It's Easier Than Eating Out

It's so easy to enjoy an absolutely delicious, healthy meal.  This is my quick fix  Roasted Chicken & Hummus Spinach Salad. It takes less than 5 minutes.

     Ever wish you could eat something healthy, that doesn't take much effort to prepare, especially after a long day at the office?  It's so simple, healthier than fast food and faster than going through a drive-through. 

Above it a Roasted Chicken & Hummus Spinach Salad

Ingredients-All pre-made, but fresh.

-Fresh spinach

-Hummus (you can make your own quickly or, in this case I bought it pre-made...any flavor, usually found in the deli section of your favorite grocery store.)

-Roasted Chicken (I also bought this beautifl, roasted chicken from the deli section at the grocery store)

-Crostini (baked, crunchy, crouton-like slices of bread)  

     Just heat up a pan with a table spoon of olive oil, shred up some chicken and sautee until heated. Place spinach on plate, top with warmed roasted chicken, then a heaping tablespoon or two of hummus. Add crostini and voila! It's delicious and satisfying.

    

     You can make your own hummus with one can of chick peas, a teaspoon of tahini, a squeeze of lemon juice, some olive oil, then mix in food processor. You can add roasted garlic, peppers, jalapenos...whatever your little taste buds desire.  You can also roast your own chicken ahead of time and debone, then portion in individual freezer bags to thaw and use anytime.  It's those little things of making food ahead of time that makes it easy to enjoy a fresh meal any day of the week.

Doc's Wine & Food, JUST What the Doctor Ordered ;-)

I've been here literally, a thousand times and have yet to blog on this cozy wine and food restaurant.It does have a New Orleans feel, from the lighting at night to the oysters on the half shell...c'est si bon!






     Doc's is a bit of a staple in the Brookside district in Tulsa.  With a talented chef and amazing wine selection, it's no wonder this place is so popular.  It's warm and friendly, with a GREAT cozy atmosphere whether it's spring, summer, fall or winter.  

     A good sign a restaurant will be top notch is when the owner is present with sleeves rolled up and not only working, but involved in the day to day business. Customers are made to feel like they're the most special ones.  Even though they have a killer wine and beer list, and their signature cocktails enticing as they are, the food is still the star.

     My friend and I (hi Michael) just met up for a glass of wine, but ended up ordering amazing food.  You know how it works, when you eat with me, we have to share and swap bites :-D  He ordered the filet atop the most delicious mashed potatoes I've ever had. 

     The demi glace was so balanced with the flavors of the meat juices and veal stock...mouth is watering as I type.  The filet was perfectly cooked, juicy, tender on the inside and seared perfect on the outside...with that outer thin salty crispy meat.

6 oz Oklahoma Filet Mignon hericot vert, whipped potatoes, bacon butter & demi glace $29

      I had the Grilled Sea Scallops, with gratinee, goat cheese and port syrup.  I know, port syrup, with scallops?  I was kind of nervous and thought, no way is that gonna taste good. I only read that AFTER I had already ordered it.  It's okay though...it actually worked well with the goat cheese and gratinee atop the portabella. It was super good.  Silly me, guess I need to trust the chefs more.

Grilled Sea Scallops roasted portabella, gratinee, goat cheese, port syrup $20

Tuna Tartare spinach, red onion, avocado, jalapeno creme fraiche & wontons $15

Doc's Char-Grilled Oysters  clarified butter, romano & parmesan  $11

     Docs Wine & Food is just perfect all the way around, from atmosphere, to food, service...all of it.  It's hard as a foodie to stay away. If I didn't have a passion for trying new things, this would be my every night place to go (it used to be, prior to launching my blog).    Santé!

Awe Yeah...National Sammy Day ;-)

What Sandwich Will You Be Honoring?

I love national days that honor some type of food.  Listening to Retro Rock, cooking and blogging is a perfect day for me. (there's the gym too but that's later).





     This yummyness of a masterpiece sandwich is fast, easy and oh so freakin' good.  I used honey wheat bread, thick hickory smoked bacon and two medium sized eggs, oh, and Sriracha aioli.

     Spray a pan with olive oil spray, toast one side of each bread. Spray pan again and either fry or poach your eggs in a separate pan.  I cook my bacon ahead of time and refrigerate, so, I just threw already cooked and cut up pieces of bacon in the pan with the eggs to warm. Drizzle one slice with Sriracha aioli (or combine low fat mayo and Sriracha or Asian chili) and then top with eggs and bacon...voila! 

(tip:  cook all your bacon ahead of time and use throughout the week or freeze the cooked bacon)

The Gnarley Dawg Makes My Choppers Gnash Away At The Bready, Meaty Tasty-ness :-D

                                                                  The Gnarley Dawg, is a hot dog specialty restaurant unlike any that I've ever been.  It's a cool place with that "garage" like atmosphere that fares well with the hipster crowds.  It's the food, however, that links the generations from baby boomers to Gen Z, with the ever popular, all American dish... the hot dog.

     For the meat portion, they offer, 1/4 lb all beef, 1/2 lb all beef, polish sausage, Bratwurst, or Hot Link sausage. They're set up kind of like a Subway with regard to how you order and tell them what you want on your "dawg" as they move down the line. That beautiful dawg you see below is my version of the ultimate hot dog.  It's a hot link sausage with jalapenos, grilled onions,  and those bright green pepper-like relish that's sweet but non pickled...thinking it's "sport pepper"?  Anyway, add to that, ONE of several, delicious, house-made sauces, the "pink sauce" which is made up of mayo, ketchup, and Sriracha. They had me at Sriracha when the told me what the sauce was made of :-)

     I literally inhaled this hot "dawg" when I got back to the office. I had to smell it from 61st & Mingo ALL THE WAY to 2nd & Utica...talk about torture with those mouth-watering aromas of beefy, spicy goodness in the car ride all the way back. So worth that first bite.  The gal behind the counter was nice...service was speed-fast and friendly. Who could ask for anything more? Bon appetit!